Alan sucked air into his lungs and sprang to his feet as the atomic pistol was discharged. He felt a sudden, burning numbness in his left arm, then was grappling with the pilot chest to chest, the atomic pistol between them. When the weapon went off, Alan was flung across the airlock, slamming against the wall. The pilot went down to his knees slowly, disbelief on his face as he died trying to stuff entrails back into his belly. Haddix and Alan went for the atomic pistol at the same time. The Security Officer got his fingers around it and turned, snarling, toward Alan. "All right, you no good son--" he began. Alan stepped on his wrist, pinning it on the floor with the weapon. He kicked Haddix in the face with his other foot and retrieved the atomic pistol as Haddix slumped forward. "Now listen," Alan said, breathing in great sobs, "we're going forward. You'll call Keifer and tell him I'm dead. Try anything else and I'll kill you. Understand?" Haddix understood. Alan followed him, stuffing his numb left hand into a pocket of his blouse as a temporary sling. By the time they reached the control cabin, the left side of his blouse was soaked with blood. * * * * * "Good dinner, wasn't it?" Bennett Keifer asked Laura. "Yes," she said. "Did you like the wine?" "Yes." "I'm glad you decided to accept my invitation. Are you?" "Yes." "Is that all you have to say, 'yes'?" "What do you want me to say?" "Come here, Laura." _Dad_, she thought. _It's for you. Alan, Alan, where are you?_ She walked to where Keifer was sitting. "Sit down, Laura." She sat. "You still don't like me," he said, as if it were both regretted and unexpected. "But you're all alone now. I've given you the opportunity to start a new life here with me. Your father can't help you. And Alan Tremaine--" "What about Alan?" Laura asked eagerly. "I want ours to be a frank relationship. No lies. No deceits. Alan Tremaine is dead." "What--what did you say?" Laura cried. "Tremaine is dead. I got word this afternoon. An accident at the warp-station." "It isn't true," Laura whispered. "It cant be true. Please. Please...." "Listen to me, Laura. I'm going to win. I can't be stopped now. I'm offering you half, a woman's share of empire. Not just the Outworlds. I believe I can force Earth itself to its knees." _Alan, Alan, forgive me. I said I hated you...._ "It isn't madness, Laura. With Tremaine's name and my plans, the Outworlds will rally behind me. And after they hear how Earth has sundered the space-warp from Venus--" "Earth wouldn't," Laura said mechanically. "It's on every Martian's lips," Keifer said. "Then you did it yourself." "Laura, Laura. I said a woman's share of empire. Don't worry yourself over the details. Wealth and jewels and importance, that's a woman's share. It's yours if you want it." "My father--" "Is a prisoner. Will you come here now?"